Final answer:
In February of 1972, Nixon announced he would visit China, marking the first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president. This decision was part of a larger effort to improve U.S. relations with China and capitalize on the Sino-Soviet split.
Step-by-step explanation:
In February of 1972, Richard Nixon announced that he would visit China. This visit was significant as it marked the first time a sitting U.S. president had visited China. Nixon's decision to visit China was part of a larger effort to capitalize on the Sino-Soviet split and improve U.S. relations with China, which in turn threatened to isolate the Soviet Union.